Holland does have some important work to do this summer and his top priority will be getting Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg signed past next season. It’s a must for the Red Wings to hold on to Zetterberg and so look for a new pact to get done.

The Red Wings were about $2 million under the salary cap this season and with an expected rise in the cap of about $5 million for next season there is some money to work with for key re-signings like Zetterberg. If they can sign Zetterberg to an extension the salary cap hit from his deal for next season would be $2.65 million – which is the average annual salary of his current four-year contract. That would only be a little love tap hit to the salary cap not a huge whack.

In describing Zetterberg it might be best to just write, “see the above description of Datsyuk.” Zetterberg supplies star-caliber contributions in every aspect of the game. He and Datsyuk are not only best friends they are near clones of each other with their superb all-around play. If you went down the list of qualities a hockey player needs to be a superstar Zetterberg would have all of them.

Holland also really wants to re-sign defenseman Brad Stuart, who was acquired from the Kings at the trade deadline. Stuart will become an unrestricted free agent July 1. By getting Stuart back the Red Wings would keep intact a big four on the blue line (Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart) that no other team can match. Kronwall told me that in the playoffs Stuart provided Detroit with the most underrated contribution of any player on the Red Wings. Stuart pounds bodies every time he is on the ice and outside of him there aren’t any real consistent hitters on the Detroit blue line.

A former minor league goalie, Holland puts a lot of importance on defense. Detroit’s top four defensemen earned more than $20 million this season.

Expect Holland to work hard on getting a new agreement with Johan Franzen, a center who could become an unrestricted free agent after next season. Also at 23, Valtteri Filppula is a young center with much potential who’ll be a restricted free agent this summer. He’s a young version of Zetterberg so getting his name on a new contract will be among Holland’s top priorities.

While assembling this talent and locking it up have been pivotal to Detroit’s success, much credit must also go to Babcock. He has not only implemented a terrific defensive system but has also seen his players develop the conscience to execute it and the willingness to play a very physical brand hockey.

Babcock says toughness is not a player taking his gloves off and punching an opponent in the face. Rather toughness to him is his players wanting the puck more than their opponents and being willing to pay the physical price to get it. It’s their being capable of imposing their will opponents.

Babcock’s personality is extremely intense and he is very demanding of his players. The one thing that will allow a coach to be that way and not face a rebellion is the players having success with that brand of hockey. Because of their success the Red Wings have bought into Babcock’s mandated style of play. The results speak for themselves and will continue to do that as not many faces will be changing in Detroit.

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